Hello all,
I've been having this problem for several months now and it has recently become an emergency because now my moms Taurus is doing the exact same thing and her car is stranded. The problem is, my truck turns over just fine, its getting plenty of power from the battery it just doesn't fire up very easily. Sometimes i will sit there for 10 seconds with it just turning over repeatedly before it finally fires up. Sometimes it starts right up with no problem but it never failed to start. My first assumption was the spark plugs but the next sentence has ruled that out for me. Now my moms taurus is doing the same thing but has failed to start. Her plugs, wires and coils were all changed a year ago so I would think that could be ruled out. Has anyone had this problem before? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Austin

 

By the way, I can't really speak for the Taurus since I never drive it, but when my truck does start it runs perfectly fine everytime.

 

Does it idle ok when it starts? Could be intermittent fuel pump failure. Or the IAC needs cleaned. Search IAC valve, there are write ups on how to properly clean them. Start there since that is free. Normally a bad or dirty IAC will cause hard starts only when cold. And will not idle without your foot on the gas for a few seconds after start up.

 

Well I got the Taurus started last night and got it home, still having problems though. I sprayed some starting fluid into the intake and it started up for a split second then shut off. Tried again, same thing. Sprayed ALOT of starting fluid in the intake and it ran for a couple of seconds then shut off. Tried one more time and this time revved the engine to idle at 2k RPM for about 30 seconds and let off the accelerator, it idled fine, ran fine and drove home fine. When I got home I shut it off, started it again and it fired right up. Then this morning it wouldn't start again. So, it's obvious it's not getting fuel but only when the car is off, when it's on it gets fuel just fine. I'm perplexed

 

Do what Toys told you. Cold start problem= IAC, do a search here.

 

I will go ahead and do the search, but like I said the problem is just as bad when it is hot out and when the car/truck has been on all day.

 

Then it could also be a fuel pressure issue.

If/when it fails to start try turning the key to the on position for a few seconds, then off again. Then repeat the on/ off process about 2 or 3 more times, then try to start the engine. If it fires right up then it is probably a fuel pressure issue. Could be as simple as a very dirty fuel filter or as mentioned earlier an intermittent fuel pump issue.

Start with cheap/easy/free and work your way up fron there.

 

Cool thanks. In my search the first thing that caught my eye was the fuel pressure so I will start there.

 

Ok so I got a hold of a code scanner today and the Taurus pulled two soft codes. Crankshaft position sensor and misfire on cylinder 4. When I buy the CPS should I buy the unit that includes the syncronizer unit attached or just the sensor? As far as the truck goes, no codes so I guess I'll let her go until the problem becomes easier to diagnose.

 

Are we talking about a taurus or an F150?

 

Both, as I said both cars have the same problem. The Taurus is just farther along and will be easier to diagnose so I'm starting there. Since they have the same problem, were both made by Ford, and are from the same time period, I figured someone else may have had a similar issue.

 

This...as you said, is more than likely fuel (its the first thing I would go after, say say 'more than likely' just because diagnosing things when you cant actually see them is like pissing in the wind )

A crank sensor is NOT going to cause a problem like this. Yes, a crank sensor can cause no fuel (no crank signal means the injectors wont pulse) but no crank signal also means no spark also...and if you didnt have spark then it wouldnt start from the starting fluid.
HOWEVER...the crank sensor code is something that should def. be checked out because that is something that easily has the potential to leave her and the car on the side of the road.

From what your describing...you have fuel pressure bleeding off somewhere. Fuel pressure can bleed off at the fuel pump, a leaky injector, or a leaking fuel pressure regulator. Pull the vacuum line off the regulator and wipe your finger over the nipple of the regulator..it should be dry, no fuel.
To determine whether or not its the pump or the injectors leaking down you are going to need a fuel pressure gauge and something to block off the fuel lines.


You pickup sounds like it has the same issue.


Over time that fuel pressure is bleeding off and causing the extended crank time....the longer it sits, the longer it takes to crank.